Saturday, March 7, 2015

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity: The Most Touching Martyrdom

Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs

In 203 a persecution by the emperor Severus reached Carthage, where it
found five catachumens, including Perpetua and her slave girl Felicity.
Perpetua was a young nursing mother, and Felicity was eight months
pregnant. There is no more poignant martyrdom than that described in
Perpetua's own account, supplemented by eyewitnesses.

Her captors used every form of psychological torture against her,
including visits by her pagan father begging her to save her life on
account of her baby. Felicity almost missed being martyred with her
mistress so close to the fatal date did she give birth. A guard mocked
her labor pains by reminding her of the pain of the arena.

They were kept in stocks for days to be gawked at. When the day came
they were scourged, then exposed to wild beasts. The crowd was
temporarily moved to pity by the spectacle of the two young mothers, but
the cruel games and bloodlust took their course. After being violently tossed
by a wild cow, it is recorded that Perpetua took care to rearrange her
clothing and hair in an effort to preserve her dignity.

The young soldier assigned to dispatch her was so nervous he botched the job
over several attempts, adding to Perpetua's suffering. She finally took
the sword blade in her own hands to guide the fatal thrust.

The ancient martyrs like Perpetua, Felicity and their companions still
have power to move and inspire. We belong to the same Church, and they
radiantly intercede for us before God. Today is their feast day.